B.A.P Interview for Japanese KpopStarz

admin: Alie

[UPDATE]
- Interview Part 2 translation

Part 1 of the Interview

Their 2nd Single was released on Nov. 13, each track stands on it's own and is introduced by the members (One Shot, Hajima, Rain Sound)

Yongguk: We've released our debut single Warrior, and now our 2nd single One Shot. The title track One Shot has a message with a challenge to do your best, live life passionately, and not to run from chances that we only have once. With a grand orchestra sound, and an even higher quality performance (than Warrior/Korean One Shot), it's a song that catches your eyes and ears at the first listen.

Hajima is a 90's style pop track with a simple melody set to pleasant lyrics. 

Rain Sound has a hip hop beat with an acoustic guitar riff and is a song about the pain of a past love. In the sound of the rain, it seems like "she" is still there, so the lyrics are painful and sad. Songs that were loved by fans in Korea, we were also able to release in Japan on this single. Each song on the single album is completely different, so you can see B.A.P's musical spectrum. 

Q: You've released "One Shot" which was a hit in Korea, was there anything you were particular with when making the Japanese version?

Daehyun: The lyrics in the Korean version mean things like "Don't run away from chances, go out and live your life to the fullest!" So when we did the Japanese version, we tried not to change the meaning. That's why we were satisfied when we thought the contents of the songs were pretty much the same. Our Leader Yongguk has the line at the start and finish of the song, "You only have one chance you know," which is also a line we want listeners to pay attention to, that you really only have one chance!

Q: In the Korean version of the song, it seems like there is more "Bounce/focus" on the words of the rapping than there is in Japanese in order to have them fit easily into the songs, but was it difficult to put them into Japanese?

Youngjae: Since it's a first for us to record in Japanese, and there were parts where we needed to make extra efforts.

Yongguk: The way you hear Korean and Japanese is completely different, so it's the same song but in the Japanese version the vocals may stand out more than the raps than in the original version.   

Q: Tell us about the filming of the One Shot MV.

Daehyun: The Korean version was very dramatic while in the Japanese version we wanted to show more of our performance. That's why there were lots of group dance scenes, we all danced together so you can get a different feel from this version. We want you to see our performance, that's the important part!

Q: What do you each want to show off in the MV?

Daehyun: For my parts, I want you to take note of my high notes near the end. Since the message we want to get accross is also sung at that part, please listen and be enchanted by B.A.P's power (laughs)

Himchan: (In Japanese) All my parts are cool. 

Interviewer: The shot of Himchan against the wall that had "B.A.P" written on it was really cool!

Himchan: I like that scene too (laughs)

Zelo: It's only for a moment, but I want you to see the cool spin I do.

Youngjae: The scene at the end where we are all walking away.

Jongup: The scene where I jump (over Himchan).

Yongguk: The scene near the end where Jongup fires his gun is cool.

Interviewer: Not your own scenes? (laughs)

Yongguk: I don't really have any (cool ones) (laughs)

Q: Any points to note about the "One Shot" costumes?

Himchan: We went with colors that gave a unified feel, and each member had their own costume detailing to suit them personally, so each costume is a little different. All our One Shot costumes are cool, and I think with our strong performance and contrast of colors we show off a lot of charisma when joined with our choreography. The red and black leave a strong impression which contributed to a perfect stage. 

Q: For "Warrior," after you sing "Warrior~" the fans blow their whistles. In Seoul for your solo concert, the whistles were so loud I was surprised! What do you think of this special way of fans cheering for you?

Daehyun: We're really happy and content with this. We can hear everyone's whistles while we're on stage, so we think that we need to make an even greater effort to do our best!

Q: B.A.P has the matoki design which is even used for your fan's light stick. Did you participate in the design and visual aspects of B.A.P's art?

Daehyun: Most of the music we put forth is very strong and manly, but the matoki is easily recognizable and fans can become closer. It's a character that is also capable of countless transformations, so as we grow it grows with us. 

Youngjae: Also, each member has their own matoki character, so each character gets special love in that way too. Also, with the lightsticks, no matter what stage we perform on, we can instantly see where are fans are cheering for us by those lights.

Jongup: With the CD covers, we did have an idea with the latest Korean release "Badman." We all gave ideas for the front and jacket designs. Of course our Leader Yongguk participates in songwriting, but from now on the rest of B.A.P want to widen our experience creating our "B.A.P" image.

Q: Your Live on Earth Pacific tour saw you do shows at Yokohama Pacifico. that was your first solo tour, but have you taken anything from those shows for these concerts?

Himchan: Firstly, those concerts we performed without having come to Japan before, but still fans cheered us on passionately, so we thought that we want to show even more growth.

Interviewer: At the Pacifico, it seemed like the stage was a bit cramped during your "One shot" performance.

Himchan: Yes, but this time the stage is a bit bigger so it's okay!

Interviewer: That's right, your First Japan Arena tour starts soon! Your last tour saw you as Warriors from another planet sent to stop "Pain and Sadness" on earth through music. Is the concept for this tour a continuation of that or something new?

Yongguk: It's a new concept different than what we did before.

Interviewer: Can you give us a little bit more?

All: It's a secret (laughs) 

Himchan: We want you to be excited for it! Until then, it's a secret! (laughs)

Q: For LOE, you went to America, what impressions do you have from the cities you visited?

Yongguk: With that tour we visited and performed in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C, and each city left it's own impression. So next year we of course want to go meet everyone in America again. Next year we also want to go to cities we haven't visited yet and perform. 

Q: that said, from B.A.P's debut until now, what was the most nerve-wracking stage, and the best stage?

Himchan: Our showcase was the most nerve-wracking. 

Daehyun: When we debuted, there was lots we had to do and not much time to be nervous, only tired or excited. But I remember being nervous for 2 days before the showcase.

Himchan: Though our Korean debut was nerve-wracking, our Japanese mini-showcase (on October 10 at Roppongi Nikofarre) was also nerve-wracking. And also our performance on NHK Music Japan. It was the first time we'd show our music off, so those times we were very nervous.

Q: From debut to now, your best stage?

Zelo: For us, every stage is the best. Also, it's because of fans cheering for us that we can show perfect and successful parts in our performances.

Yongguk: Each new stage, we meet new fans when we stand on stage. We're grateful for each and every fan all over the world who cheer for B.A.P. Because each stage is a one time thing, we do our best to make it the best. Because we will also not forget our beginnings, please continue to look out for us. 

Q: When did you have the best "After Party" experience? 

Daehyun: With the last tour, when we were in Hong Kong I think. It was a few days before my birthday, and everyone gave me a surprise party where there was lots of delicious food to eat, and I remember how everyone felt happy.

Himchan: After concerts and tours, when we can relax and feel "It's finished~~!" and we can eat lots of good food...I don't really remember much (laughs)

Q: Lastly, tell us what B.A.P wants to say musically!

Yongguk: With our music we want to be a good influence over many people without being pushed around by trends, to make our own music as B.A.P, to continue pursuing B.A.P's music in our own way.

©bapyessir.com #Nicole

Part 2 of the Interview

Hi, I’m Kiyori Matsumoto, who was in charge of “Photo shoot direction and interview,” in the previous article with B.A.P. Take a look at the cool members’ photos that we have already posted on our website. In the back of the pictures we took for the individual cuts, you can see the other 5 members. Behind Daehyun’s left hand, there’s someone making some Sumo wrestler moves… When Yongguk and Youngjae was doing there photo shoot, it looks like the other members were slowing approaching them… I’m sure a lot of you was curious of what the members in the back of were doing.

The photos we will be introducing today are other cuts from the OK cuts that we weren’t able to introduce last time. If we say that the last time was cool B.A.P, this time was childish and energetic B.A.P. Like their music, which has various expressions from cute, hardcore and mellow, they showed various sides of them during the photo shoot. From those photos, we picked up several of them not by the main member in the individual cuts, but by focusing on the “members in the back.” Behind the member who is seriously working on their individual cuts, they showed their mischievous and childish sides, and without our knowledge, we were able to take some miracles. There are funny collaborations of the main member and other members in the back. While we were shooting photos, the studio was filled with laughter from the members and the staffs.

Before we took the individual cuts, Himchan asked us “What should we do in the back?” so we answered, “Do whatever you want! The members in the back will be in the picture vaguely, so you can do whatever you want to.” Then they exchanged their looks to each other like “Really? Anything is OK?” with their eyes shining from excitement. We just told them “Move around freely. You don’t have to worry about going out from the frame.” and the photo shoot started from Zelo.

In the middle of November, outside was cold and rainy, we had a photo shoot session with B.A.P at a studio in Tokyo. After the schedule and location was decided, we have been discussing together about how we want to take the pictures. We wanted to take both B.A.P’s cool/handsome side and childish/friendly sides together, in the limited time of the photo session. While I prepared for the photo shoot with the cameraman, we came up with using 3 different compositions.

First was the group shoot. Members were relaxed having their back laid by the wall and sitting on a chair. Next was the individual shoot, having each member stepping forward to the camera. It was fun shooting this, seeing rest of the members moving around freely in the back of the main member who was posing seriously. Last we took stylish group pictures by slightly turning down the lights to make the studio dark.

The photo shoot started when all the members who finished their preparation gathered in the studio. When I rested myself in the back seat, Himchan came toward me and asked “Is there something you would want us to do?” so I requested “Just relax and show us your cool facial expression.” The photo session went fast.

Next was the individual cuts. We asked all the members to stand by the wall, and told each member to come forward one at a time. We wanted to take this cuts with some contrast. The session started from Zelo, and while he stepped forward, others were standing quietly in the back. But when the cameraman showed them how the picture is coming out, members immediately understood the concept of this session and started to play around with each other. The second main member was Daehyun. Behind the back of Daehyun’s angelic smile, Zelo and Jongup started to mimic sumo wrestler! Himchan just stood next to them watching them quietly. This was still within our expectation. However, when the third main member, Jongup’s session started… Somehow it clicked the member’s mischievous switch, and they started moving around like crazy!! (laughs) And this is when the miracle happened!!

In the picture at the very top, you can see Daehyun making a beautiful jump above Jongup’s hand! That was a miracle moment! When I saw this picture, I thought “I need to write a backstage report for this photo shoot.” After this, Zelo started to do handstand but fails, and Youngjae also joined him too! The fourth main member to shoot the individual cuts was Himchan. When he was in the back, he watched rest of the members playing around like a mother, but as soon as his shooting started, he approached very close to the camera to hide other members in the back. Seeing this, Daehyun and Youngjae came right behind Himchan. And this was picture was taken when that happened! I’m sure you can see how they are having fun playing around. Daehyun’s smile has a strange power making everyone happy the moment we see it.

The fifth member was Youngjae. When Youngjae stepped forward towards the cameraman, Himchan was sneaking behind him, followed by Daehyun and Zelo. Youngjae felt something was going on behind him, and when he looked back… there was a straight line behind him! The picture was taken when Youngjae burst out laughing when he noticed this funny line behind him. Looks like he’s having a lot of fun there! Leader is also laughing. But, we were impressed by them! Because the next moment, they all took a pose at the same time without any signs. Youngjae is giving us a perfect posing toward the camera. Oh, and also the leader! (laughs)

Finally it was the last member, the leader: Bang Yongguk, and they started to form a pyramid that they’ve done in their P.E. class before. As you can see, we were able to take some funny pictures in this individual photo shoot, revealing their childish sides. Even though this was individual cuts, the picture came out with a good atmosphere seeing their close relationships as a group. And also, it was fun to take miracle moments too.

After this, we changed the setting, and had a group photo shoot. This time, they showed us their cool and handsome sides. I would like to end this backstage report by introducing this last cut when we asked them to take any pose they want to take. Thank you to B.A.P, who showed us their various sides! I’m sure all the fans are happy to see their smiles!

©KpopStarz | bapyessir.com #Yui